1989 Bridgestone ST Civic ~ Drivers: Stephen Yeoh and Mike Kazmierczak: Day 1 of STS competition (Thursday, Day 5)

We finally get to race after cooling our heels for almost a whole week. It's a beautiful day and we are hearing that the surface is not the same as it was last year. It's a lot better.

We run in the 4th heat when it is nice and warm. I don't know if this is typical, but it is probably close to 80 degrees. We are in a big class and with the schedule requiring work, preparing the car and driving, I didn't take very many photographs. Michelle took a bunch of photos for us in heat 4 - thanks Michelle!

We are located in the far grid and it seems like it takes forever to drive out to the start line run for 40+ seconds and then drive back to the pit. With no radio and no easy way to see what others are doing, we just go about doing out thing. Jason takes his first run and comes back with a 47+ - case of event nerves. We go out and run a decent 1st run, but it's dirty. Ken tells me it's a stupid cone because I wasn't pushing hard enough. Next time, drive harder, so I do.

Stephen at the start line on the West course

Jason goes faster in his second run, breaking into the 45.6 second range. Nerves are calmer now. My second run gets me down to a 44.41? and I think it's decent, but I have no idea where I am. Somebody tells me that I'm in the top 4, but not sure where. OK. Whatever. I'm not in first place. I need to go faster.

Jason takes his third run and takes another 1/2 second off, finishing with a 45.1. My third run is a greedy one and I end up going slower. I'm still not sure where I am until we are in impound and everybody is comparing times, then I find out that I'm in 2nd place. Andy Hollis is in front and Heyward is right behind me. In another 7/10ths, there are another 14 drivers. Talk about close competition. Very cool.